Seriously. Figure out that 1-3-1 zone and find some scoring in that second half, and we'd be playing later today. That said, to beat WKU and GA Tech, who are programs sort of in transition, but nevertheless schools that you're used to seeing come end of the season, and this is WAY better than our last couple of farings at pre-season tourneys. Can we make a season of this year? Yes, I do think so. If nothing else, we'll have a chance in most games and play hard. We've got to shore up some of the stuff going on with Ralston and Warren, at that 3/4 position, but man, I think this tourney showed us that Hickey and Hamilton can be counted on to give us some oompf this year. O'Bryant is going to get better and contribute as well--he has some seasoning to do. The unsung hero today and really last game also was ANDRE STRINGER. I like him where he doesn't have to play point, and can sneak around for 3 point shots while Hickey is doing his thing, but he can spell Hickey and help LSU get the ball up against the press. He was quietly productive at the 2 today. If we can shore up our perimeter defense, and get more production out of Ralston and Warren, we'll be formidable. Rico Gathers, imagine you on this team, along with Malik Morgan! :grin: We come home and can't let down against folks of the likes of South Alabama. We get Rutgers on TV, and we still have some interesting non-conference match ups yet--Virginia, Houston and Marquette to name a few. Keep getting better, keep gelling and keep building that confidence. For us this season, the game will be mostly mental.
Big win. Love that we have three or four guys willing to shoulder the scoring load. Once JOB gets a bit more assertive offensively we'll have enough firepower to be a 70-75 ppg team. My thoughts after seeing every game but Coastal so far: -Hickey is a true player and he allows Stringer to fall back into more of a spot shooting role. -Ralston will be great on nights that his shot is falling but he's settling for too many long jumpers at this point. -Hamilton has some good offensive skills in the post and works hard on the glass. -Warren has been solid so far but eventually O'Bryant should replace him in the lineup. -Still intrigued by some of our other role players. White, Ludwig, Isaac, Courtney, etc. should all be able to contribute to some degree. I definitely this this team has the potential to be right in the thick of the middle tier of SEC teams, which is pretty much everyone other than Alabama, Kentucky and Miss St.
c'mon, guys, that's harsh! Seriously, I understand some of the fan's ire with Trent signing guys like Ludwig and Derenbecker, when folks like Langston Galloway (who I watched play for St. Joes in the same Classic) or Markel Brown are out there (OK St) playing Div 1 ball. But, to say that Ludwig can't help this team is going a little far. Frankly, I was thinking to myself about what a Derenbecker still on this team could mean. Another 3 wing, with a decent 3 point shot, to spell Ralston Turner is a bad thing? Frankly, Turner has had an off number of games, both shooting and giving LSU that defensive intensity that it needs on the perimeter. I think if Derenbecker had stayed, he might have split more time with Turner and Stringer on this team, and done alright with guys like O'Bryant and Hamilton down low. Watching Galloway light it up against Tulsa yesterday did make me think what if though... but that's the way the recruiting ball bounces sometimes. Not sure Langston wasn't already headed to the NE anyway, but now that Derenbecker's gone, you wonder if Trent would have played his cards differently in 2010. Ludwig's going to be fine. He's a kid that does need to play that 3/4 position, he'll just need some match ups that play more to his strength. If LSU played a little bit more zone, I could see him doing more on defense. Also, the kids got to work on his handling skills. He's the sort that along side an Isaac or Hickey will get his fair share of open jumpers--he's got to be ready to hit them--but he can help this team out more with his positioning and leadership--helping the team to recognize where they need to be while on the court.
Not sure I'd go that far, but let's give Trent a little bit of credit here. How long has it been since LSU recruited a decent point guard? I think you'd say that Brady "recruited" two that actually would be notable in his tenure. Torris Bright (who frankly was a SG playing the point position) and Darrell Mitchell, who came to play point in his Jr/Sr years. Hickey is a good recruit and who was actually recruited as a point, and Trent was able to land him in the Spring over programs like South Carolina, Miss St, Tennessee, and others. In Trent's time, he's inked Andre Stringer, who played point, John Isaac who played some point, and Hickey. These are all going to be decent guards that develop in the program into some pretty solid players. Speaking of Hickey, here is what is hopefully the beginning of a long list of accolades for this kid--Hickey was named to the All-Charleston Classic tourney team. Also, here's to him staying healthy and with LSU for a long time. Hickey Named to Charleston All-Tournament Team - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics
I was happy to see the win. Last season we played strong until 8-6 minutes left and ran out of gas. The bench is going to help this team in that we have something left at the end of games now.
